New Kettering grads to get pep talk from Weather Company CEO at commencement

FLINT, MI – Leadership, teamwork and job experience are three things that Andrew Sierra will take away from his undergraduate studies at Kettering University.

It was those elements, among others, that Sierra said set him up for success after graduation. He had four job offers waiting for him and he was accepted into Harvard Business School.

"I think the sharing of ideas is something that I really picked up on (while at Kettering). There are so many different backgrounds and so many different team members for everything you do there," said Sierra, 22, of Burton. "Being open to what everyone can bring to the table is something I will always take with me."

Sierra, a 2009 Kearsley High School graduate, will be one of 463 Kettering graduates walking across the stage during commencement Sunday, June 22. Graduation numbers increased from the roughly 402 graduates last year.

The commencement ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. outside on Kettering's campus.

Kenny graduated in 1984 with an industrial administration degree from Kettering while completing his co-op experience at his hometown Oldsmobile Plant in Lansing. In 1982, amidst the oil crisis, Kenny had the opportunity to work in Athens, Greece, for the overseas division of General Motors that covered Europe and the Middle East, the latter being an emerging market for luxury vehicles at the time.

Upon graduation, Kenny enrolled at Harvard Business School in pursuit of his Masters in Business Administration.

In January 2012, Kenny was named the chairman and chief executive officer of The Weather Company. Kenny currently manages an operation at The Weather Company that includes more than 200 meteorologists, many whom are doctoral graduates in a variety of the fields including engineering, mathematics, creativity and design.

Sierra said when he walks across that stage all his hard work will be a reality.

"I think there's so much hard work put into the time I was at Kettering it's just that cumulating feeling of I've done it. I'm here," said Sierra, an electrical engineering major and a business minor. "It really is the opening of the door of many things to come. ... Finishing one goal in order to open up new doors for new goals is always exciting to me."

Even though he is moving forward, the skills and experiences he took from Kettering and the Flint community will always stuck with him. Kettering prepared him for time after college.

The co-op program at Kettering is what helps every student stand out. Every other three month-period, Sierra spent working at Magna Electronics in Auburn Hills.

"It was clear in everyone my interviews they were excited about all my experience I had. Two years of experience when you graduate really seemed to be valuable to all the employers I talked to," Sierra said. "I always knew I wanted to be a part of the automotive industry. Being at Magna ... gave me a great perspective of what goes on behind the scenes. They challenged me to expand my limits of thinking.

"Now that I've graduated and I'm working at Ford, working at Magna with that previous experience with design gave me a more well-rounded view."

But beyond that, it was also the opportunity to make a bigger impact in the community that helped Sierra along the way, he said.

Sierra organized the College Town Leadership Summit last year that took roughly 100 students from all four Flint-area colleges – Baker College, Kettering, Mott Community College and University of Michigan-Flint – to speak with business, governmental and non-profit officials on how to move the city forward.

He was also the regional student representative of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in charge of nine states.

"I think one thing that Kettering does really well is allows you to understand the impact you can have not only in the workplace but in the world around you. I was able to look past this campus and ask what can I do to make an impact?" Sierra said. "Flint is a big part of the Kettering experience."

Anyone attending the Kettering commencement is encouraged to use the hashtag #KetteringCommencement to share photos on Instagram (@KetteringU1919) or Twitter (@KetteringU).